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The Primary Education PGCE will provide you with understanding of educational theory and of how that relates to practice, alongside an in-depth understanding, and experience of, the National Curriculum for Key Stages 1 and 2, enabling you to kick-start a rewarding career in teaching.

Your university-based training will cover aspects such as educational theory, subject knowledge, safeguarding, philosophy of education which will underpin and impact upon your practice. School-based placements form a large part of the PGCE and you will complete a series of these over the course of your training. Arranged by Northumbria University, your placements will include group and individual tasks, observation and the planning and delivery of lessons – all of which will provide you with a strong grounding in the roles and responsibilities of a teacher.

During the placements, you will be supported and mentored by experienced teachers and senior leaders. You will also be assigned to a link tutor from Northumbria, who will support both you and your school-based mentors to ensure that your school experience fully develops your skills as a teacher.

Successful completion of the PGCE Primary Education course will provide you with a recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status. This allows you to immediately begin working in a school or other educational establishment.

This course is delivered via a mix of lectures, seminars and workshops to provide you with opportunities to develop your theory and practical skills, whilst reflecting on your school-based experiences.

Placements will form a large part of your learning and throughout the duration of your course you will undertake two assessed placements within our partnership schools. Arranged by Northumbria University, your placements will cover a wide range of activities including group and individual tasks, observation and the planning and delivery of lessons.

This course is assessed via a range of methods that include written assignments, presentations, reflective personal portfolios and school-based assessments related to the planning and conduct of teaching a lesson. These methods will enable you to demonstrate that you have met the requirements to achieve PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status, aligned to the Teachers’ Standards 2012.

The PGCE Primary Education course is delivered by our team of highly experienced tutors who boast extensive experience in teaching and education. Our team have worked in schools and organisations at a local, national and international level.

Actively participating in projects that are defining the education sector, our staff are also involved in wide range of additional activities such as research, the writing of books and articles, delivering further training to experienced teachers and participating in initiatives to improve the quality of education.

This course requires you to spend a significant amount of time in our partnership schools, where you will receive additional support and mentoring from experienced teachers and senior leaders. You will also be assigned to a link tutor who will support both you and your school-based mentors to ensure that your school experience fully develops your skills as a teacher.

Throughout the duration of your course you will have access to state-of-the-art facilities such as our University library – which has been recognised as second best in the UK – and well equipped working space, The Hub, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Your experience will be enhanced by technology and through our innovative e-learning platform, Blackboard you will be able to access student support and other key University systems through your personal account.

This innovative use of technology is embedded throughout your course to create a learning community that is professional, collaborative and well informed.

Book an Open Day
/ Experience Primary Education PGCE

Visit an Open Day to really get an inside view of what it's like to study Primary Education PGCE at Northumbria. Speak to staff and students from the course and discover your funding options.

Research-rich learning is embedded in throughout this course, with themes such as practitioner enquiry, curriculum design and reading intervention forming just a sample of the research-based learning themes covered.

You will be able to draw on our research-led teaching approaches and embark on a process where critical, analytical thinking and self-reflection are central to the development of your knowledge and understanding of learning, teaching and the professional role of a teacher.

This approach to enquiry will ensure your understanding of current practice and developments is at the forefront of the education sector.

You will leave with a strong understanding of teaching, and the ability to appreciate the wider expectations associated with this profession. Your placements will provide practical experience and a strong grounding of the roles and responsibility of a teacher, which is integral when applying for future positions.

The Individual Learning and Development Plan (ILDP) and career entry development profile – both of which are incorporated into this course - will directly support your early career learning and enable you to seek out opportunities that may lead to school leadership roles.

This course is fully compliant with the requirements for initial teacher training as defined by the Department for Education and the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).

Book an Open Day
/ Experience Primary Education PGCE

Visit an Open Day to really get an inside view of what it's like to study Primary Education PGCE at Northumbria. Speak to staff and students from the course and discover your funding options.

Course in brief

Who would this Course suit?

Are you passionate about teaching and delivering a high quality learning experience to children between the ages of five to eleven? Would you like to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in just one year? Then this could be the course for you.

Entry Requirements 2019/20

Standard Entry

Applicants must hold a good honours degree (normally 2.1 or above) of an UK university or a recognised equivalent qualification.

The content of the applicant’s previous education must provide the necessary foundation for work as a primary school teacher.

Applicants should have a GCSE grade 4 (old grade C) or above in Mathematics, English Language and a Science subject prior to submitting their application.

Please Note: we do not accept deferred applications for this programme

International applicants are required to have one of the following English language qualifications with grades as shown below.

• A British Council International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.5 (or above) with a minimum score in each component of Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking of 6.0 • Pearson Academic score of 62 (or above) with a minimum score in each component of Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking of 54.

The University also accepts many other English language qualifications and if you have any questions about our English Language requirements please contact the Applicant Services team and we will be glad to assist you

Mandatory Skills Tests

All trainee teachers are required to pass skills tests in numeracy and literacy before starting their course.

The numeracy and literacy skills tests:

• cover the core skills that teachers need to fulfil their professional role in schools, rather than the subject knowledge required for teaching. This is to ensure all teachers are competent in numeracy and literacy, regardless of their specialism; • do not replace the GCSE grade C equivalence entry requirement; • are set in the context of the professional role of a teacher; all questions use real data and information which teachers are likely to encounter; and • are computerised and can be taken at any of approximately 150 test centres throughout the UK.

If you’d like to find out more about what is required, please visit the official Skills Tests page at education.gov.uk

Fees and Funding 2019/20 Entry

Full UK Fee:
£9,250

Full EU Fee:
£9,250

Full International Fee:
TBC

ADDITIONAL COSTS

Throughout your course you will incur placement travel costs of approximately £800. In addition to your placement travel costs you would also expect to incur a cost of approximately £30 to fund travel expenses related to various field trips as part of your programme.

Click here for International Masters funding and scholarships information.

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Modules Overview 2019/20

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

Year one

TE6680 -

Curriculum, Creativity & Challenge (30 Credits)

This module will help you to develop a deeper understanding of different approaches to curriculum design and delivery in school as part of the Primary Curriculum (2014). Tutors will introduce you to discrete subject teaching and more integrated approaches. You will learn about a creative curriculum, thematic planning and learning opportunities outside the classroom. You will be given guidance as you develop your subject knowledge expertise and help to define the pedagogical approaches and theory that underpins successful learning and teaching within a broad and balanced curriculum. Much of what you learn in this module will be applied directly to planning, teaching and learning on your school based experience. You will learn about the ideas and theories of learning and personal pedagogy and how this is central to your professional practice as a teacher, making links between theory and practice by reflecting on your observations and experience in the classroom.

TE6681 -

Primary Professional Practice (30 Credits)

In this module you will learn how to apply your theoretical, pedagogical and subject knowledge (introduced through the other PGCE modules) in a school based setting. In short, you will learn how to teach by working alongside experienced teachers. As you develop the knowledge and skills required to help children make progress in their learning you’ll gain first hand experience of a range of classroom environments and gain an excellent understanding of the professional role of a primary teacher. You will learn how to plan, teach, and assess across a range of subjects in the age phases you are working with and see the impact you have on children’s progress. An essential aspect of this will be the reflective approach you develop that will help you to analyse your performance and respond to feedback with the express purpose of improving children’s learning. The ability to critically reflect, analyse and evaluate your personal and professional understanding and practice will help you to set and action professional targets that will underpin your recommendation for Qualified teacher Status.

TE7057 -

Professionalism & Inclusive Practice (30 Credits)

This module will develop your knowledge and understanding of a range of learning and teaching issues related to current practice in primary education. You will learn about the nature of pedagogy and how it is central to your professional practice as a teacher and be encouraged to make links between theory and practice by reflecting on your observations and experience in the classroom. Your learning will be set within the context of contemporary issues such as:• Equality, Inclusion & Diversity in Education• Behaviour for Learning• Assessment: Principles & Practice• Safeguarding• Cultural & Political perspectives of Education• Theoretical Principles, Learning & Children• Professional Responsibility & Practice

TE7058 -

Learning, Teaching & Assessment in Core Curriculum (30 Credits)

This module will help you to develop a deeper understanding of how the core subjects of English, mathematics and science are delivered in school as part of the Primary Curriculum (2014). Tutors will introduce you to the distinct nature of each subject, provide guidance as you develop your subject knowledge expertise and help you to define the pedagogical approaches and theory that underpins successful learning and teaching in these subjects. You will learn how to use specific strategies in English and mathematics to ensure that the children you teach develop the literacy and numeracy skills to help them become confident, independent learners. You will develop a thorough understanding of how approaches to assessment are integral to this process and you will learn how to use a range of formative and summative strategies to ensure your teaching is effective and children make progress.Much of what you learn in this module will be applied directly to your school based experience. With the guidance of your school-based mentor, you will plan, teach and evaluate sequences of lessons; putting into practice what you have learnt as part of your university based training. Seeing the impact that your teaching has on the progress of children will directly inform your thinking as you reflect on your own learning and subject knowledge development.

Modules Overview 2020/21

Modules

Year one

TE6680 -

Curriculum, Creativity & Challenge (30 Credits)

This module will help you to develop a deeper understanding of different approaches to curriculum design and delivery in school as part of the Primary Curriculum (2014). Tutors will introduce you to discrete subject teaching and more integrated approaches. You will learn about a creative curriculum, thematic planning and learning opportunities outside the classroom. You will be given guidance as you develop your subject knowledge expertise and help to define the pedagogical approaches and theory that underpins successful learning and teaching within a broad and balanced curriculum. Much of what you learn in this module will be applied directly to planning, teaching and learning on your school based experience. You will learn about the ideas and theories of learning and personal pedagogy and how this is central to your professional practice as a teacher, making links between theory and practice by reflecting on your observations and experience in the classroom.

TE6681 -

Primary Professional Practice (30 Credits)

In this module you will learn how to apply your theoretical, pedagogical and subject knowledge (introduced through the other PGCE modules) in a school based setting. In short, you will learn how to teach by working alongside experienced teachers. As you develop the knowledge and skills required to help children make progress in their learning you’ll gain first hand experience of a range of classroom environments and gain an excellent understanding of the professional role of a primary teacher. You will learn how to plan, teach, and assess across a range of subjects in the age phases you are working with and see the impact you have on children’s progress. An essential aspect of this will be the reflective approach you develop that will help you to analyse your performance and respond to feedback with the express purpose of improving children’s learning. The ability to critically reflect, analyse and evaluate your personal and professional understanding and practice will help you to set and action professional targets that will underpin your recommendation for Qualified teacher Status.

TE7057 -

Professionalism & Inclusive Practice (30 Credits)

This module will develop your knowledge and understanding of a range of learning and teaching issues related to current practice in primary education. You will learn about the nature of pedagogy and how it is central to your professional practice as a teacher and be encouraged to make links between theory and practice by reflecting on your observations and experience in the classroom. Your learning will be set within the context of contemporary issues such as:• Equality, Inclusion & Diversity in Education• Behaviour for Learning• Assessment: Principles & Practice• Safeguarding• Cultural & Political perspectives of Education• Theoretical Principles, Learning & Children• Professional Responsibility & Practice

TE7058 -

Learning, Teaching & Assessment in Core Curriculum (30 Credits)

This module will help you to develop a deeper understanding of how the core subjects of English, mathematics and science are delivered in school as part of the Primary Curriculum (2014). Tutors will introduce you to the distinct nature of each subject, provide guidance as you develop your subject knowledge expertise and help you to define the pedagogical approaches and theory that underpins successful learning and teaching in these subjects. You will learn how to use specific strategies in English and mathematics to ensure that the children you teach develop the literacy and numeracy skills to help them become confident, independent learners. You will develop a thorough understanding of how approaches to assessment are integral to this process and you will learn how to use a range of formative and summative strategies to ensure your teaching is effective and children make progress.Much of what you learn in this module will be applied directly to your school based experience. With the guidance of your school-based mentor, you will plan, teach and evaluate sequences of lessons; putting into practice what you have learnt as part of your university based training. Seeing the impact that your teaching has on the progress of children will directly inform your thinking as you reflect on your own learning and subject knowledge development.

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